Axmi-027, axmi-036 and axmi-038, a family of delta-endotoxin genes and methods for their use

Abstract

Compositions and methods for conferring pesticidal activity to bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues and seeds are provided. Compositions comprising a coding sequence for a delta-endotoxin polypeptide are provided. The coding sequences can be used in DNA constructs or expression cassettes for transformation and expression in plants and bacteria. Compositions also comprise transformed bacteria, plants, plant cells, tissues, and seeds. In particular, isolated delta-endotoxin nucleic acid molecules are provided. Additionally, amino acid sequences corresponding to the polynucleotides are encompassed. In particular, the present invention provides for isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising nucleotide sequences encoding the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:2, 11 and 13, or the nucleotide sequences set forth in SEQ ID NOS:1, 10 and 12, as well as variants and fragments thereof.

1. An isolated nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence selected from the group consisting of:
 a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, or a complement thereof; 
 b) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11; 
 c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide having pesticidal activity towards Hemiptera pests; and 
 d) the delta endotoxin nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited as Accession No. NRRL B-30818, or complement thereof. 
 
     
     
       2. The isolated nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 , wherein said nucleotide sequence is a synthetic sequence that has been designed for expression in a plant. 
     
     
       3. A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       4. The vector of  claim 3 , further comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding a heterologous polypeptide. 
     
     
       5. A host cell that contains the vector of  claim 3 . 
     
     
       6. The host cell of  claim 5  that is a bacterial host cell. 
     
     
       7. The host cell of  claim 5  that is a plant cell. 
     
     
       8. A transgenic plant comprising the host cell of  claim 7 . 
     
     
       9. The transgenic plant of  claim 8 , wherein said plant is selected from the group consisting of maize, sorghum, wheat, cabbage, sunflower, tomato, crucifers, peppers, potato, cotton, rice, soybean, sugarbeet, sugarcane, tobacco, barley, and oilseed rape. 
     
     
       10. A transformed seed comprising the nucleic acid sequence of  claim 1 . 
     
     
       11. A method for producing a polypeptide with pesticidal activity toward Hemiptera, said method comprising culturing a host cell comprising a vector comprising a nucleic acid molecule encoding said polypeptide, said polypeptide being selected from the group consisting of:
 a) a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11; 
 b) a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein said polypeptide has pesticidal activity towards Hemiptera pests; 
 c) a polypeptide that is encoded by the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:10; and 
 d) a polypeptide encoded by the delta endotoxin nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited as Accession No. NRRL B-30818. 
 
     
     
       12. A plant having stably incorporated into its genome a DNA construct comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a protein having pesticidal activity toward Hemiptera, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, or a complement thereof 
 b) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11; 
 c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide having pesticidal activity towards Hemiptera pests; and 
 d) the delta endotoxin nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited as Accession No. NRRL B-30818, or complement thereof. 
 
     
     
       13. The plant of  claim 12 , wherein said plant is a plant cell. 
     
     
       14. A method for protecting a plant from a pest, said method comprising introducing into said plant or cell thereof at least one expression vector comprising a nucleotide sequence that encodes a pesticidal polypeptide toward Hemiptera, wherein said nucleotide sequence is selected from the group consisting of:
 a) the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO: 10, or a complement thereof 
 b) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:11; 
 c) a nucleotide sequence that encodes a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 11, wherein said nucleotide sequence encodes a polypeptide having pesticidal activity towards Hemiptera pests; and 
 d) the delta endotoxin nucleotide sequence of the DNA insert of the plasmid deposited as Accession No. NRRL B-30818, or complement thereof.